Epilepsy Canada Influencer: Vanessa Wozniak
Meet Epilepsy Canada Influencer: Vanessa Wozniak
As someone living with epilepsy, it has been such a honour to accept the Epilepsy Canada Influencer position to speak and be a voice for those living and struggling with Epilepsy. When I was first diagnosed with epilepsy at age 10, I didn’t have a support group or role model to lean on. I had no one who understood my challenges. Now that I am older, and have adjusted to a this lifestyle and have experienced the good and the bad, I believe I can be a role model for others struggling, a support system and a advocate. I want to be that person that I needed when I was younger and that’s why I wanted to become Epilepsy Canada’s Influencer.
My Personal Journey:
I was diagnosed with Epilepsy when I was 10 years old. I had no clue what it meant or what it was doing to my body. It was a really frustrating time for me. For the longest time I denied my diagnosis and I just wanted to be like everyone else. I didn't take my medication and I did all the things that my body doesn't like when it comes to having a seizure. All I wanted was to be included and not judged based on my medical condition.
Fast forward to my teen years, I hid my epilepsy from almost everyone I knew (besides my family). I wanted to drink and party with my friends even though I wasn't supposed to. I went to college and kept that "normal" routine going. It was working, I felt included and I wasn't having seizures (so I thought). I had my first tonic-clonic seizure when I was 19. I felt embarrassed and terrible because I was living with roommates and we were all going to school together. They had no idea what to do. Several seizures later, I finally recognize the importance of my epilepsy. This took me years to finally accept that it wasn't going away. I have learned to embrace it and I've found such an empowering community of warriors that battle epilepsy. I know I can lean on them for support when I need it.
“Every month is tough. Everyday I wake up and make sure my body and my brain are healthy enough to take on another day.
I am forever grateful for making it through another month. One step closer to one year seizure free.”
The courage of those living with epilepsy,
inspires us and fuels our journey.
Your gift will help us to continue on the road toward an epilepsy cure.